Kas’ POV
It had been quite a few many years since I’d had reason to open this passage, much less traversed it. The walls were lined with torches which did nothing to cast light for ordinary eyes.
“Where does this passage lead, Kas? Why is it here?”
“Arthan showed it to me.”
“Your brother?”
“Indeed. He brought me here many years ago after our father died. He showed me things down here that I never knew existed. Things about us, about humans. About our future.”
“Future? What do you mean? You aren’t making much sense at the moment.”
“I am aware. Hell, the first time he brought me down here, he spewed words that sounded like the most incredible rubbish I’d ever heard. But you will understand, just as I had.”
As the passage ended, we soon entered a large room, walls covered in thick vines that seemed impossible to cut. Diverse tapestry depicting the history of our people swayed gently in a nonexistent breeze from where they hung from the roof.
At the centre of the room, what looked to be an altar made of stone stood ominously, a pedestal beside it that held a large, worn-out book. I led her to the pedestal, releasing her hand to open the pages of the large book.
“What is it? What is this book?”
“This text contains a prophecy.”
“A what?”
I turned the pages until I landed on one all too familiar.
“Look here, my dear. This will explain it all, I promise you. Just read it.
Idati looked at me sceptically but, with a roll of her eyes, she followed my directions and took a stand before the book.
“In the time where factions split and fight
Where one of evil will spread his blight
Two young souls must take a stand
Protect both races and save the land
A prince with the power of ancient old
And a human child with power untold
A brother, a traitor, a nation must cower
If ever he gains Elheiner’s power.”
Silence.
“Do you under-”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. I do not understand. What does this mere poem have to do with you letting our son fraternise with a human?”
“Go to the last page.”
She did so, grumbling under her breath, though I managed to hear her refer to me as an ‘Old Coot.” at which I only smiled with a shake of my head. Adorable, isn’t she?
“Now. Ask it a question of the past.”
“You want me to talk to a BOOK!?”
“Ida, please. I need you to understand and this is the only way.”
“FINE. Book. What happened to me on March 17th 1939?”
“...”
We waited and watched as the book's pages flipped back to earlier pages, revealing words that Idati read carefully. The suspicion and doubt on her face melted away to shock with a hint of fear—an understandable reaction to the current situation, of course.
“Kas… this is impossible. Not even my own family would know about this! How can it do- how can it KNOW that!!?”
“That, I cannot answer, my dear, as only the book itself as well as whoever created it would know. What I can tell you, is that it is never wrong. It knows things, Ida. Things that are yet to happen. Terrible things that have plagued my dreams for the hundreds of years I’ve known of them.”
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Idati looked down at the words of the book, at the events that took place a little over 80 years ago before she’d even known of Kas. This book… what was it? And what was this prophecy?
‘A prince with the power of ancient old’
“Do you… do you mean Mizak? You believe our youngest son and his mate are the two souls prophesied here?” I nodded.
“Indeed. This, I as well as Arthun believe, is our future. The war amongst our factions. This is it! You saw him that day I confronted him about his mate. There was something there, something strange, something powerful within him. I’m sure of it, Ida.”
“But, if that is the case, what do we do? Do we tell them?”
“No. I don’t think so. I believe this is something they are bound to discover for themselves. However, we may attempt to guide them as best we can.” She nodded in agreement, glancing at the book once more.
“But, Kas… this line concerns me. What is Elheiner?”
“I wish I knew, Ida. But may the Gods help us if ever it falls into our foe’s hands.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Mizak. I promise you that my parents are nice people. They aren’t the type to judge baselessly.” The hallway was dimly lit, casting shadows that seemed to dance with Mizak's anxiety. Evan could feel the tension in the air, both from the vampire and himself. Taking a deep breath, he encouraged Mizak with a reassuring smile.
"Come on, Mizak. It's going to be fine. Just knock, and we'll get through this," Evan said, his voice steady.
Mizak nodded, though his hands were trembling. He raised his hand and hesitated for a moment before finally rapping on the door. The sound echoed through the quiet hallway, and Mizak's heart pounded in his chest. They waited in silence, the air heavy with anticipation.
A muffled female voice came from within, "One moment, please."
Evan exchanged a glance with Mizak, trying to offer silent support. The door opened slowly, revealing a woman with gentle features and kind eyes. Melinda Daniels, Evan's mother, stood there in her nightgown, a hint of surprise in her expression as she took in the unexpected visitors.
"Mom," Evan began, "there's someone I'd like you to officially meet. This is Mizak Nolvas. You know… the young Lord."
Melinda's surprise deepened, and she blinked a few times, as if trying to process the information. Mizak, despite his nervousness, managed a polite bow.
"It's an honour to meet you, Mrs. Daniels," Mizak said, his voice steady, though his heart still raced.
Melinda smiled warmly, her initial surprise replaced with genuine curiosity. "Likewise, Young Lord. Please, come in. What brings you both here at this late hour?"
Both vampire and human walk into the room, both casting a greeting to Chris who wore an equally surprised look to that of his wife.
"Mom, Dad… there's something important we need to talk about," Evan began, taking a deep breath. Despite his words of encouragement to Mizak earlier, it was clear as day that he himself was a bit nervous to see and know the reactions his parents would have after hearing the news they brought.
Melinda and Chris listened attentively as Mizak began to speak, the air in the room charged with a sense of anticipation. Evan's mother observed the subtle yet telling interactions between the two young men, noting the comforting touch exchanged between Mizak and her son. She exchanged a knowing glance with Chris, her husband, as they settled in to hear Mizak's tale.
Mizak took a deep breath, a visible relaxation passing through him. The support of Evan's presence seemed to embolden him. He began by recounting the events of Malara's birthday, the chance encounter in the garden, and the confrontation with the older vampire. The room filled with a mix of emotions as Mizak detailed the moments that led to him escorting Evan back to the hall.
Before delving further, Mizak paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "May I ask if you're familiar with the concept of mates, particularly those mated to vampires?"
Melinda and Chris exchanged a glance, both nodding slightly. "We're aware of the general idea," Chris replied. "But why don't you go ahead and explain it from your perspective? We want to understand."
Mizak nodded appreciatively and continued, "In vampire culture, mates are considered soulmates, destined to be together for eternity. It's a connection that goes beyond the physical, binding two individuals on a deep, profound level. When a vampire finds their mate, it's a significant and rare occurrence."
He glanced at Evan, who met his gaze with a reassuring smile. Mizak took Evan's hand in his, the gesture not lost on Melinda and Chris. "Evan is my mate. Our connection goes beyond friendship. It's a bond that intertwines our lives in ways I never imagined."
Melinda and Chris exchanged another glance, this time with a mixture of surprise and understanding. The concept of mates in vampire lore was not entirely foreign to them, but witnessing it firsthand brought a new level of reality to the supernatural aspect of their lives.
Evan's mother smiled warmly, sensing the depth of emotion in Mizak's words. "It sounds like a powerful connection. How do you both feel about it?"
Mizak sighed, his gaze turning thoughtful. "It's... overwhelming, in a way. There's an intensity to our bond that I never experienced before. It's not without its challenges, especially considering the responsibilities we carry and the world we live in. But," he glanced at Evan, a softness in his eyes, "it's also a source of strength. Knowing that we're connected in such a profound way gives me courage to face whatever comes our way."
Evan's hand tightened around Mizak's, a silent affirmation of their shared journey. Chris leaned back, absorbing the information with a thoughtful expression.
"I appreciate your honesty, Mizak," Chris said. "It's clear that your connection with Evan goes beyond the ordinary. We may not fully understand the intricacies of vampire culture just yet, but we can see the sincerity in your words."
Melinda nodded, adding, "You're always welcome here, Mizak. Your bond with Evan is just an added bonus… I suppose I shouldn’t expect any grandkids huh?"
At that, the four cried out with laughter, the atmosphere warm and inviting. And throughout it, Evan had not once released Mizak’s hand. Not that he minded though.